7 Keys to Racing in Costume

Between Halloween and New Year's Day, you're likely to see more costumed runners at races than any other time of the year. Should you join them?

According to some of the fastest costumed racers ever, most definitely yes. "There are so many facets to running, and this opens the door to a new way of experiencing races," says Ian Sharman, who used to hold the Guinness Book of World Records mark for fastest marathon in a costume and, when wearing normal race attire, has won many ultramarathons and run a 2:32 marathon.

In addition to Sharman, our experts include Michael Wardian (seen above as Spider-Man), another former costumed-marathoner record holder (2:34); Camille Herron, the women's Guinness record holder, thanks to running 2:48 as Spider-Woman at the 2012 Route 66 Marathon; and Kevin Beck, who has run just over 17:00 for 5K not only while dressed as the Grinch, but with his dog in tow, and in costume as a reindeer.

Given the increased emphasis on security at races these days, it's a good idea to make sure your race allows costumed runners.

1. Keep An Open Mind
"Treat it as a enjoyable spin on running and don't take it seriously," says Sharman.

The calendar is full of races where you can try to run as fast as possible. Just as having variety in your training day to day, week to week, month to month brings the best results, varying your mental approach to running throughout the year will you keep you fresher. For some people, that might mean no races, for others it might mean new events like a trail ultra or a Color Run. Think of racing in costume as another form of variety that in no way detracts from being a "serious" runner.

"It's like a parade," says Herron. "If someone can bring that added element to a race, inspiring kids by seeing their favorite superhero run by or bringing laughter by seeing a Banana Man (or Woman), it's worth doing."

2. Try a Practice Run
Even though you probably won't be going for a PR while in costume, you'll want to minimize mid-race unpleasant discoveries. As we'll see below (Expect Challenges), wicking and other features of good running gear aren't utmost in costume makers' minds. Do one or two short runs in your costume so that you'll know what's likely in terms of chafing, how hard it is to breathe with a mask on, things like that.

Herron's costumed marathon was in November, "so I ran on Halloween in the costume, and then one or two times later, when people looked at me like, 'Doesn't she know Halloween is over?!'" she says. Herron kept her practice runs under an hour but did them during the warmest part of the day to get an idea of how hot she would be inside. (Want to race on Halloween? Follow this guide so your costume is a real treat.)

"I did a few practice runs in my Spider-Man costume with friends and it was awesome," says Wardian. "We went out at night and people were cheering."

Sharman recommends not overdoing it on practice runs.

"The costumes are cheap and easy to damage so I limit the running pre-race to a test jog to make sure they stay on and fit okay," he says.

3. Expect Comments
Let's be honest—part of the appeal about racing in costume is curiosity about what others will say.

"I got a lot of cheers, and people wanted to take their picture with me," Herron says about appearing at the start line as Spider-Woman. "One guy asked me what my goal was and I told him sub 2:50; he couldn't believe it. I don't think people realized I was a legitimate runner in costume, nor that I was a female (I'm not well endowed, and the costume created some ambiguity)."

"I usually overhear comments on the start line about how 'that guy in the costume isn't going to beat me,'" Sharman says. "People don't like getting beaten by costumed runners since they assume I can't be a committed runner who trains hard."

During the race, "there was a bit of ambiguity about my gender, so some of the spectators didn't know whether to yell, 'Go Spider-Man! Go Spider-Woman! Go Spidey! Go Spiderthing!'" says Herron.

"I've had plenty of conversations mid-run, and almost all are really supportive and find it amusing," Sharman says. "They usually ask my marathon PR since they want to get a sense for whether they should push ahead or not."

With most costumes, if the comments start to bother you, remember that you're wearing a mask.

"I think the most interesting thing about racing in costume is being anonymous," Wardian says. "It is really empowering."

4. Expect Challenges
Most costumes aren't designed with heavy breathing and sweating in mind. A practice run will give you an idea what you're likely to encounter, but of course won't prevent the predictable.

Kevin Beck and his dog Komen were dressed in their best to run a 5K.

Kevin Beck

"I was surprised by how hard it was to breathe through the tiny mouth hole of the mask," Beck says about his Grinch get-up. "The most difficult thing was the fact that, whenever I'd turn my head to get a better view of this or that, the mask wouldn't necessarily rotate with my head and the eyeholes would wind up a few inches out of place, blinding me until I could manually make proper adjustments. Since I had a leash in one hand and a few Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins in the other [for dog/reindeer-enticing purposes], this was a genuine challenge."

Wardian and Herron also had trouble breathing through the small mouth hole of their costumes. Drinking can also be challenging. "The water will go through but then the fabric stays wet and clings to your mouth and makes breathing really hard," Wardian says.

You'll sweat a lot more than usual, even if you're running slowly, because much of the heat you'll build up will get trapped in the costume. Sharman says the resultant chafing can be the most challenging part of costume racing. He advises adding a few holes for ventilation. (When racing in an Elvis costume, Sharman had to wear a belt "as most of the costumes are one-size-fits-all and I'm thin," he says.)

Some might find costumes constraining in a different way. "I'm claustrophobic, so I had to learn to control my breathing and not hyperventilate or get anxiety," Herron says.

And you know how sometimes you need to make a pit stop while running? Well, that need doesn't necessarily go away just because you're in costume.

"I had difficulties before the race trying to zip [her Spider-Woman costume] off in the porta-john," Herron says. "I had some major GI issues during the race..." and we'll leave the rest of the story to your imagination.

5. Work The Crowd
Spectators are going to love you. Use their enthusiasm to your advantage.

"The reaction of the crowds in major city marathons was incredible since I felt like I was being pushed along on a wave of noise," Sharman says. "By the end I was almost deafened in London, as the volume was so much more than when I've run that event in normal running gear."

Herron ran 2:48 as Spider-Woman. Beck ran just over 17:00 for 5K, compared to his typical time then of 15:30 or so. You might find yourself willing and able to run fast despite your attire. (You could even enter the record books. These 34 world records were broken at the 2015 London Marathon.)

"I felt nearly as competitive as I would have in any other race," Beck says. "I fought hard not to be outkicked by the first woman (didn't happen)."

"Most costumes would only add on a couple of minutes over the course of a marathon but they look like they should be slower," Sharman says.

7. Have Fun
"It's just plain fun, especially if you do it with friends," says Sharman.

Scott DouglasScott is a veteran running, fitness, and health journalist who has held senior editorial positions at Runner’s World and Running Times.

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